**
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- **The final joint practice with the 49ers in advance of their preseason duel Saturday at Sports Authority Field at Mile High did not go as well as the first one a day earlier.
"We didn't practice very well today -- coming off yesterday, which was very physical," Head Coach Gary Kubiak said after a short, 80-minute practice at the UCHealth Training Center.
NOTES:
... Even though both teams did not wear full pads, Thursday's practice was physical -- but not in the way Kubiak had in mind. Multiple skirmishes broke out during the one-on-one period between linemen.
Center James Ferentz got into a scuffle and emerged with the helmet of a 49er. Adam Gotsis and Zane Beadles got into a tussle.
The Broncos welcomed the San Francisco 49ers to UCHealth Training Center on Wednesday for the first of two joint practices.
The heated exchanges carried over to the subsequent team period. Russell Okung was at the center of one dispute after C.J. Anderson was tackled hard and to the ground.
Finally, Kubiak called the offense together for a huddle.
"I told them, 'Do you want to practice now, or do you want to come back tonight?'" Kubiak said.
"We were too busy with other stuff, personal agendas, instead of practicing football. We settled down and finished up."
Kubiak's words were heeded. A few plays later, Andy Janovich also exchanged words with DuJuan Harris after Kapri Bibbs hit the ground hard after a collision, but both parties walked away before it escalated.
... The defense finished up strongly, continuing its team-period dominance from the day before. It capped its morning with two consecutive stops in the move-the-ball, two-minute-drill period at the end of the practice.
The first team forced a turnover on downs, with good interior pressure forcing 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert to escape the pocket and run to the sidelines twice in four snaps.
The No. 2 defense was done in two plays, plus one wiped out by a holding call against the 49ers. Rookie cornerback John Tidwell made the big play intercepting Jeff Driskel on the second play of the series and racing toward the end zone.
Denver's defense finished the two days of practice perfect in two-minute drill work, allowing no points -- and not even a first down -- in five series. Three of the 49ers' possessions ended in interceptions.
... The offense did not fare as well. Given a 26-21 deficit, possession at its 40-yard line, 1:20 on the clock and one timeout, the No. 1 offense stalled after reaching the San Francisco 39-yard line. Siemian completed four short passes for 21 yards to move the chains twice, but no receiver was able to get out of bounds, leaving 16.4 seconds on the clock when it used its time out. After a first-and-10 pass down the left sideline was nearly intercepted, Siemian attempted two "Hail Mary" passes, with Ray-Ray Armstrong intercepting the final one in the end zone.
Mark Sanchez and the No. 2 offense went three-and-out. After a first-down sack, Sanchez found Bralon Addison for a 9-yard connection, but a third-and-4 pass to Durron Neal was slightly behind the rookie wide receiver and dropped. A fourth-down incompletion intended for Kalif Raymond sealed the offense's fate.
INJURY REPORT:
... DE Derek Wolfe sat out after having his ankle rolled during a team-period snap Wednesday. "I expect Derek back for our light practice [Friday], and expect him to play. He's doing [well]," Kubiak said.
... TE Jeff Heuerman did not practice after suffering a hamstring strain early in Wednesday's practice. Fellow TE Garrett Graham also remained sidelined.
... WR Bennie Fowler and OL Ty Sambrailo remained sidelined because of elbow injuries.
PARTICIPATION REPORT:
... Wolfe's ankle injury and Vance Walker's torn anterior cruciate ligament led to NT Darius Kilgo seeing first-team work at defensive end Thursday. "Like Vance, he's going to have to play both spots, so we'll see," Kubiak said.
... With Heuerman and Graham out, Virgil Green, Henry Krieger-Coble and John Phillips split all of the tight end repetitions.
... S Ryan Murphy and CB Taurean Nixon practiced for the first time since being injured Aug. 8.
WEATHER REPORT:Although the action got a bit hot, temperatures remained pleasant, hovering between 77°F/25°C and 80°F/27°C.
